March 1, 2022 - Remains vibrant and delicious. Still wonderful the second night.
May 26, 2019 - Oxidized but still drinking well - hazelnut, orange rind. Past its peak but still very interesting.
March 15, 2014 - Unbelievable how this white wine performs after 16 years. You can taste the age and the unique characteristics of Kistler at the same time. First, you taste the age then you taste Kistler and the finish merges the two impressions. A pure pleasure.
August 18, 2010 - Crisp acidity, with notes of straw, dried tropical fruit, iodine, roasted nuts, with nice minerality. Not your typical California chardonnay. Balance and finish were there, but certainly not much young fruit left.
December 25, 2009 - Crisp and acidic, but not much fruit presence. Suspect this would have drank better a few years earlier. Still nice though.
December 5, 2009 - Viscous in the glass and giving aromas of pineapple, vanilla creme, dried apple and honey. Palate is dense with a coating mouthfeel and still showing some of the minerality others have noted. Lingering flavors of pineapple and toasted almond. Definately showing signs of its age. This was not nearly as nice as the last bottle consumed just over a year ago. Drink up.
May 10, 2009 - Found in the cellar...and some how not listed as inventory...deep pure gold color and a nose that was almost void of fruit and only showing an oakyness that my son called popcorn...I can see that, but still...no fruit. Palate was interesting as there was a nice texture of fruit that grabbed a bit at mid palate with a nice balance of acidity...almost rounded with the oak nuances more evolved and playing more of a small supporting role. No doubt age has played its hand here...but there was enough substance to enjoy the surprise find.
December 26, 2008 - Terrific deep yellow/honey color. This showed good acidity and fine resolve with a fairly profound mid. It was a little rough at the finish, especially as the night went on. It is what you would expect from a Kistler, a powerful wine with intensity in every component. I would guess this could have aged a few more years as well.
September 17, 2008 - I know! Not a Napa wine! Pebbles of rock, apple, light butterscotch and hints of prune on the nose. Dark Golden hue on the wine, once you tasted it, oxidized … some sour fruits and butter on the palate but otherwise not incredibly pleasant to drink. These old Kistlers are a real hit and miss! Uh.. I’m not sure if I want to rate an oxidized wine so I won’t.
June 20, 2007 - Deep gold, but still a hint of green. Mellow toasty oak and mineral chardonnay fruit. Really quite nice. Full and buttery, but complex. Rich palate that is fully integrated. Has lost all baby fat and maybe a bit too much fruit. Raw wood and alcohol on the finish. One of the better Kistlers I have had - no butterscotch, but still not a favorite. (91)